2015-16 Student Handbook

Softball with Style: An Interview with Coach Tammy Claussen

By Dorinne Dorfman

Leland & Gray’s softball team played a very competitive 2015 season, all the way through the Vermont Division III finals on June 19th. When the end-of-year tumult ended, coach Tammy Claussen and I caught up to reflect and look forward.

Dr. Dorfman: What drove L&G’s softball team to the finals?

Tammy Claussen: I had an extremely committed group of young women who believed in each other right from the start. They took this statement to heart: “It’s not always the best team that wins, but the team that plays the best together.” At the start, they had talked about their goals in the weight room, which you happened to see. As a team, we clarified that, “We want to be State Champions.” Then we got so close to accomplishing our vision; it’s just an amazing testament to their belief in each other. If you don’t believe it, you can’t achieve it, right?

DD: Not only did you ask for goals, you asked for SMART goals.

TC: It’s important for kids to know how to set goals for all kinds of activities. They’d heard about SMART goals, Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Sensitive. They changed it from their original, “We want to go to the state finals,” to “We want to be state champions!”

Leland & Gray • Social Studies Geography • Summer Work

A well-informed citizen has strong geographic knowledge. L&G students entering grades 7 through 11 need to take the time this summer to learn the countries and landforms of the continents and/or regions listed for the social studies course or courses which they will be taking during the next school year. When students start the course in August or January, they will be tested on their knowledge of the regions. If students come across vocabulary (e.g., ice shelf) or names of regions (e.g., Patagonia) that they are unfamiliar with, they should research them for definitions.

Geography packets have been mailed home, though students can access their assignments at these links: